Useful Websites for Community Ministries

Information from Government Departments

Australian Bureau of Statistics
Gives you access to the full range of ABS statistical and reference information.

Federal Government
Australian government web pages on: community development; building social capital; sustainable communities; community networking; and business and community partnerships.

Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA)
Information about the range of community support initiatives by the Department of Family, Community Services, and Indigenous Affairs.

Victorian Department of Planning and Community Development
Works with local people throughout Victoria with the mutual goal of strengthening communities by linking government investments to local knowledge and community decision-making.

Victorian Government - Community Strengthening
Community strengthening has emerged as a key policy theme as governments around the world seek ways of addressing increasingly complex issues facing contemporary society. It is a process whereby communities, government, business and philanthropic organisations work together to achieve agreed social, economic and environmental outcomes.

Grants from Victorian Department of Planning and Community Development
On this site you can apply for grants online, download guidelines and applications forms, read about what community organisations have done with some successful grant applications and find hints and tips on how to make an application.

Community Builders.NSW
Relevant for groups beyond NSW, this site is an interactive electronic clearing house for everyone involved in community level social, economic and environmental renewal.

Australian community organisations

OurCommunity.com.au
Information and resources for government and non-government community organisations.

Brotherhood of St Laurence
An independent organisation with strong Anglican and community links which fights for an Australia free of poverty.

Anglicare Victoria
Anglicare Victoria has a number of partnerships with local congregations to provide support to their communities.

Innovative Resources
Set up by St Luke’s Anglicare in Bendigo to publish resources for the broader community and beyond. They publish and sell "seriously optimistic card packs, books, stickers, posters and other resources" that can change people's lives.

Mission Australia
Non-denominational Christian organisation with a vision to spread the love of God and meet human need. With more than 320 services across metropolitan, rural and regional Australia, in every state and territory, Mission Australia aims to empower disadvantaged and isolated individuals, families and communities by giving them the support they need to get back on track, and lead more fulfilling lives.

Homelessness Australia
Seeks to improve community awareness and understanding of the issues facing the 1 in every 200 Australians who are homeless. Advocates for people who are homeless, aims to represent the interests of more than 1,300 homeless assistance services, and contributes to policy development and evaluation of Australia’s homeless service system.

ActNow
A youth-oriented site to encourage community participation and action on social issues, which builds relationships and networks among people sharing these concerns. Resource topics include human rights, education and work, culture, environment, and health.

Overseas community organisations

While operating outside Australia, these organisations offer many useful insights and resources for community ministries.

Faithworks (UK)
Faithworks exists to empower and inspire individual Christians and every local church to develop their role at the hub of their community. They challenge and change the public perception of the Church by engaging both media and government and  actively encourage unity and partnership to meet the needs of local communities.

Their website includes an extensive set of downloadable community ministry resources.

Christian Community Workers Association (UK)
Aims to: initiate, support and encourage community development work in the life of the churches; help them to reflect theologically on their response to social and economic change; promote good community development work practice; and provide help and guidance for community development work projects and support practitioners.

Christian Community Development Association (USA)
The mission of CCDA is to inspire and train Christians who seek to bear witness to the Kingdom of God by reclaiming and restoring under-resourced communities. They aim to strengthen existing Christian community development organizations; encourage new Christian community development efforts; promote Christian community development through regional training; educate and mobilize the body of Christ at large to become involved in Christian community development in their area; and sustain, enable and inspire those individuals doing Christian community development.

The United Reformed church (UK)
Actively encourages congregations and trains leaders in community ministry. A lot of useful information is available in this site.

Resources from Baptcare
Baptcare has many texts and resources for congregations at its Camberwell office on Community Ministries. Call the Community Ministries Co-ordinator on 03 9831 7221 to review the collection.

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